The site is scheduled to open on March 3, FEMA announced on Friday.
FEMA, CDC, HHS, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the city of Philadelphia have partnered to open the vaccination site.
“Much remains to be done,” said Philadelphia health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley during a news conference.
FEMA and federal partners are planning to support the site through personnel, operations, logistics and vaccine allocation.
“The Philadelphia website, like other federally supported sites across the country, was selected based on data analysis, including the CDC Social Vulnerability Index and other Census data, as well as input from our state and local partners “said FEMA in a statement.
According to FEMA, the Philadelphia website could have a vaccination rate of several thousand doses per day once at maximum operational capacity and would come with its own vaccination allocation, in addition to what the city of Philadelphia already receives.
Farley repeated the allocation information during his briefing.
“The federal government has different locations that they designate as Type 1 and Type 2. This is a Type 1 location. Vaccines will come with federal support, so they will not be removed from our local allocation,” said Farley.
FEMA said ensuring that vulnerable and underserved populations have access to vaccines is a priority in the site selection process.
“The central location of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, accessibility by public transport, logistical capacity, large size and existing city contracts in support of vaccination operations have made it a logical choice for the first federally operated site in Pennsylvania,” said FEMA.
FEMA and partner federal agencies have said they will provide clinical and support staff to the site, “freeing the city of Philadelphia to focus staff and resources on vaccination efforts in neighborhoods in the city.”
“We think the Convention Center can handle the high volume we are talking about. A Type 1 venue should have 6,000 people a day, which is quite a few people, but it is a very large convention center and has excellent transport access “said Farley.
Specific details about the opening date and the registration process are yet to come, Fema said.
“Every city in the country, including Philadelphia, is struggling not to have enough COVID vaccine to meet the demands of its residents, so this center will make a big difference,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “We look forward to seeing this COVID-19 Vaccination Center join our vaccine delivery channel system, which includes community clinics, hospitals, local health centers, pharmacies, mobile sites and more.”
FEMA is working with Pennsylvania officials to evaluate other federally supported vaccination sites across the state.
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